Prosthetist and orthotist

Prosthetists and orthotists provide care for anyone requiring an artificial limb (prosthesis) or a device to support or control part of the body (orthosis). They also advise on rehabilitation.

Orthotists provide a range of splints, braces and special footwear to aid movement, correct deformity and relieve discomfort.

Prosthetists provide the best possible artificial replacement for patients who have lost or were born without a limb. A prosthetic limb should feel and look like a natural limb.

A prosthetist's role

You'd work with patients of all ages, usually in a large hospital. Patients' disability may be the result of an accident or amputation, perhaps following a disease, such as diabetes, or they may have been born without a limb.

Your skills will be used to design and select the best possible prosthesis. The first step is to make a model of the area where the prosthesis will be fitted. You'll do this by making a plaster cast or digital image which would be modelled to produce a safe and comfortable fit. You will then supervise the assembly of the prostheses by the technicians.

You will offer patients advice on how to use the prosthesis and make adjustments to maximise its performance during the fitting.

You will work alongside doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists  and prosthetic technicans to give the people under your care the best possible rehabilitation. Your main aim will be to enable the patient to lead a normal life at work and leisure.

An orthotist's role

Any part of the human skeleton may need some orthosis if damaged. It is need to reposition the body or provide relieft from discomfort.

Patient assessment is an essential part of the orthotist's job. Working with colleagues, such as doctors, physiotherapists, chiropodists, and orthotic technicians, you will then design the orthosis.

You will often work in a clinic as part of an out-patient service in one or more hospitals. You'll also visit other centres to provide a service for people with special needs and of all ages. This could be children who have cerebral palsey who need fabricated splints for walking or older people requiring special footwear and insoles to treat deformities.

You will be responsible for taking careful and precise measurements of the patient and supervise the making, fitting and adjustment of the orthosis, as well as educating them in fitting and using their orthosis.